Category Archives: Wildlife

The Sentinel – American Crow #Birds #WingsOnWednesday

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I was raised on a dairy farm, and the American Crow was the enemy of our corn crop.  One of my jobs – or maybe pastimes, because I enjoyed it – was hunting the crows to try to reduce the crop damage.  Fortunately most of the crows survived – I was never a very good hunter, and the crows were smart.  One of the things they did was to post a sentinel in a tree.  This sentinel would raise a ruckus when it spotted me, and the flock would fly noisily away from the corn field, usually in the same number as they arrived. 

This may be the city version of my sentinel crow, watching out for marauders.  There are a couple more photos down the page…

American Crow - Corvus brachyrhynchos - The Sentinel

American Crow - Corvus brachyrhynchos - The Sentinel

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American Robin in my Yard #Birds #WingsOnWednesday

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The American Robin (Turdus migratorius) is perhaps the best-known bird in the United States.  Although it is migratory (take a look at that species epithet) and the winter range maps I’ve seen show it as not being a normal resident of North Georgia during the winter, we’ve had robins in our yard all winter this year in spite of it being a rather cold, snowy winter.   I photographed robins in our yard in December 2010, and January and February of this year.

These pictures were taken last spring, however, not this winter.  Every time I see this first photo, I’m struck at the eye crescents.  I’m not really a very observant person unless at a particular circumstance I make a conscious choice, and honestly I’d never really noticed them before.   More photos are included…  

American Robin - Turdus migratorius

American Robin - Turdus migratorius

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Brown-headed Nuthatch #Birds #WingsOnWednesday

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It’s interesting that while north Georgia is at the northern end of the range of this small bird, I only recall seeing it visit us during the winter.  Either it’s attracted to our feeders during the winter due to reduced forage in the winter, or I’m just missing it.  I’ve really enjoyed the visits.  

Brown-headed Nuthatch - Sitta pusilla

Brown-headed Nuthatch - Sitta pusilla

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Northern Mockingbird #Birds #WingsOnWednesday

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The “Northern” in “Northern Mockingbird” (Mimus polyglottos) seems strange for a bird now found throughout the United States, especially since in the past the range did not include the northern part of the country. Turns out, however, that there is a cousin species, the Tropical Mockingbird (Mimus gilvus,) found from southern Mexico down into Brazil, so I assume that would be the “southern” mockingbird.

In any case, this bird, full of personality, is one of our year-round residents. This one was on a post at Reflection Riding Aboretum in Hamilton County, Tennessee on January 3 of this year, and appears to be enjoying a meal of an insect.

Northern Mockingbird - Mimus polyglottos

Black-Billed Magpie #Birds

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The Black-Billed Magpie, Pica hudsonia, is a common bird in the west.  However, since we don’t have them in the east, I always enjoy observing this member of the crow family (Corvidae) while we’re in Boise.  Aside from the black and white color, one of the eye-catching features of this bird while in flight is the long scissor-like tail.

Black-Billed Magpie